Obama Calls For Cooperation With China, Greater Involvement in Asia

U.S. President Barack Obama has pledged cooperation with China and a greater U.S. engagement in Asia during a major speech in Tokyo Saturday.

President Obama said the United States does not seek to contain China, and welcomes its efforts to play a greater role on the world stage.

However, he said the United States will never waver in speaking up for values it cherishes and said a discussion about human rights can take place in a spirit of partnership.

Highlighting his own childhood in Indonesia, President Obama emphasized America's ties to Asia as he made his first trip to the region since becoming president. He said Washington's commitment to Asia's security was "unshakable."

During his wide-ranging address, the president also spoke about nuclear proliferation, climate change, and the global economic downturn.

He urged North Korea to return to international talks on its nuclear program, saying the United States will not be cowed by threats.

President Obama said Pyongyang has chosen a path of confrontation and provocation which he said only leads to less security.

On fighting climate change, Mr. Obama said that while solutions on the issue will be difficult, all nations must take action. He said developed nations must have clear reduction targets and developing countries need to take substantial action to curb their emissions.

The president also spoke about the global economy saying the world must pursue balanced and sustainable economic growth and must not return to the cycles of boom and bust that led to the financial crisis. He said the global recession has shown the limits of depending heavily on American consumers and Asian exports to drive growth.

President Obama also spoke about Burma, urging that country's military government to release all political prisoners, including pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. He said reform on human rights will bring Burma "true security and prosperity."

On Friday, Mr. Obama met with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama with both pledging to revitalize the long-standing alliance between their countries.

Japan is the first leg of Mr. Obama's eight-day tour of Asia. From Tokyo, Mr. Obama travels to Singapore for a summit of 21 Asia-Pacific economies. Mr. Obama will then visit Shanghai and Beijing in China, and Seoul, South Korea.